(a) Any person subjected to an unlawful housing practice may file within 350 days of the alleged violation with the Fair Housing Officer a complaint in writing, sworn to or affirmed, which shall state the name and address of the person alleged to have committed the violation complained of and the particulars thereof, and such other information as may be required by the FH Officer. The Officer may also corroborate or initiate complaints based on testing carried out by its staff or volunteers authorized by the Officer.
(b) Upon the filing of a complaint the FH Officer shall make such investigation as he deems appropriate to ascertain facts and issues. If the FH Officer determines that there are reasonable grounds to believe a violation has occurred, he shall attempt to conciliate the matter by methods of initial conference and persuasion with all interested parties and such representatives as the parties may choose to assist them. Conciliation conference shall be informal and nothing said or done during such initial conference shall be made public by the FH Officer unless the parties agree thereto in writing.
(c) The terms of the conciliation agreed to by the parties shall be reduced to writing and incorporated into a consent agreement to be signed by all parties, which agreement is for conciliation purposes only and does not constitute an admission by any part that the law has been violated. Consent agreements shall be signed on by the FH Officer.
(d) The FH Officer is authorized to seek the cooperation and aid of the Ohio Real Estate Board or Ohio Civil Rights Commission in any investigation under this chapter.
(e) If the FH Officer determines that the complaint lacks reasonable grounds upon which to base a violation of this chapter, he shall dismiss such complaint or order such further investigation as may be necessary.
(f) If the FH Officer, with respect to the matter which involves a violation of this chapter, fails to conciliate a complaint after the parties have in good faith attempted such conciliation, fails to effect an informal conciliation agreement or a formal consent agreement or determines that a complaint is not susceptible of conciliation, shall forward all complaint information and documentation to the Ohio Civil Rights Commission or the Real Estate Board for formal actions.
(Ord. 10-40, passed 7-22-2010; Ord. 15-30, passed 8-27-2015)